Process for the production of ammonium nitrate base explosive charges capable of being poured or cast



1,968,158 PATENT OFFICE rnocnss .r'on 'rnE PRODUCTION or m. MONIUMm-rna'ra BASE EXPLOSIVE omens CAPABLE or name roman on CAST PhokionNaoum and Robert 11. Sommerfelduml Falkenhayn, Leverkusen-Schlcbusch,near Cologne,.Germany, assignors to Dynamit-Aetien- Gesellschaft vormalsAlfred Nobel & 00., Co-

logne, Germany No Drawing. Application September 19, 1932, Serial No.633,920. In Germany September 29,

Claims. (CI. 52-21) This invention relates to the production of anammoniumnitrate base explosive charge which is capable of being pouredor cast.

Explosive charges adapted to be poured (cast aor molded) and having anammonium nitrate base were widely used during the World War, wherebythe'exceedingly high melting point of the ammonium nitrate (167 C.) waslowered by the addition of related nitrates, for example, so- 10 diumnitrate and organic salts or substances such as sodium acetate,dicyandiamid and urea, until at about 105 C. a viscous mass was obtainedwhich permitted sufilcient homogenization with the aromatic substances,for example, trinitrotoluol added to increase the explosive force.

For producing this homogeneity it was'necessary to maintain the melt inconstant movement during the pouring of the charge. Such chargescontained -25% trinitrotoluol.

It has now been found possible to produce ammonium nitrate baseexplosive charges of more complete homogeneity and stillgreateriexplosive force with equal safety in the gun barrel and onshooting at this explosive if the ammonium nitrate is melted togetherwith the nitrates of simple or multiple amines of the aliphatic series.

Thus, at temperatures at which there is no question of chemicaldecomposition, completely homogeneous and clear melts are produced,which cannot disintegrate (decompose or come out of admixture). andrequire no movement during the pouring. Such charges combine, withextremely great explosive force, which is superior to that oftrinitrotoluol and picric acid, and with complete chemical stability acomplete safety as well in the gun barrel as on shooting at the chargeand they are thus easily the equals of the well known explosive chargesof aromatic nitro bodies, for which reasonthey are generally suitablefor artillery purposes.

Example I Ammonium nitrate (melting point 16'7" C.) 55%Ethylenediaminedinitra m e 1 ti n g point 188C.) 45% Casting temperature103C; Lead bloc expansionm 390 ccm. Example II Ammonium nitrate (meltingpoints 167 c.). --r Methylamine nitrate (melting point 4 Castingtemperature"; 58 C. 55 Lead bloc expansion 375 ccm.

Example III Ammonium nitrate 55% Ethylenediaminedinitrate 40%Methylamine nitrate 5% 69 Casting temperature 93 C. Leadbloc expansion385 ccm.

Example IV I Ammonium nitrate 5 Diethylenetriaminetrinitrate (meltingpoint 151.") ..r. 35% Casting temperature 116 C. Lead bloc expansion"390 ccm.

' r Example v Ammonium nitrate 55% Ethylenediaminedinitrateu 31.5%-Diethylenetriaminetrinitrate- 13.5% Casting temperature 105* C. Leadbloc expansion 385 com.

Example Vi Ammonium nitrate 12% Monoaethanclamine L nitrate (meltingpoint 53) 28% Casting temperature- 100 C. Lead bloc expansion 320 com.

As compared therewith trinitrotoluol bulges out of a lead bloc only 290ccm. and picric acid 310 ccm.

The formula of methylamine-nitrate is as follows:'

CHaNH2.HNOa

The formula of ethylene-diamine-dinitrate is as follows:

OHaNHz-HNOI HlNHi-HNO' such changes and modifications as may fall withinthe spirit of the following claims.

We claim:-

,1. A process for the production of explosive mixtures -f extremelygreat homogeneity, particularly for the production of poured explosivecharges comprising melting together ammonium nitrate and nitrates of theamines of the aliphatic series.

2. A process for the production of explosive mixtures of extremely greathomogeneity, particularly for the production of poured explosive chargescomprising melting together ammonium nitrate andethylenediaminedinitrate.

. 3. A process for the production of explosive mixtures of extremelygreat homogeneity, particularly for the production of poured explosivecharges comprising melting together ammonium nitrate and methylaminenitrate.

4. A new composition comprising the combination of ammonium nitrate anda nitrate of the amines of the aliphatic series.

5. A new composition comprising ammonium nitrate combined withethyleneciiamine dinitrate.

6. A new composition comprising ammonium nitrate combined withmethylamine nitrate.

7. A process for the 'producton of explosive mixtures of extremely greathomogeneity comprising melting together ammonium nitrate anddiethylenetriaminetrinitrate.

I 8. A new composition comprising ammonium nitrate combined withdiethylenetriaminetrinitrate. 1

9. A process for the production of explosive mixtures of extremely greathomogeneity, particularly for the production of poured explosive chargescomprising melting together ammonium nitrate and a nitrate of the aminesof the aliphatic series.

10. A new composition comprising the combination of ammonium nitrate andnitrates of the amines of the ali hatic series.

PHOKION NAO ROBERT v. SOMMERFEID mm FALKENHAYN.

